Romney Picks Paul Ryan as Running Mate

Mitt Romney announced Saturday morning that Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan will be his vice presidential running mate.

The decision was made via email shortly after 7:30 a.m. Romney and Ryan spoke nationally just after 9 a.m. thsi morning. But word of Romney's vice presidential pick first began leaking out late Friday night.

Ryan, who is in his seventh term in Congress, serves as chairman of the House Budget Committee and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. He is seen as a Tea Party favorite who could help solidify Romney's conservative credentials.

Ryan is the architect of "A Roadmap for America's Future," a budget proposal touted by Ryan as "an alternative" to President Obama's plan for economic recovery. Follow the link above, or read it right here – we've uploaded the pdf here for you.

Here's some early reaction to the pick from New Hampshire political observers:

Former state Rep. Fran Wendelboe, R-New Hampton, called Ryan "a bold pick" who will "solidify the conservative base and the Tea Party activists – here in NH and across the country... This country wants fiscal responsibility and to move forward on jobs and the economy. Ryan is a perfect pick for that agenda."

Former state Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, said with the Ryan pick, "Romney has solidified his right-wing pro-super conservative credentials, making it much more difficult to sound reasonable and responsible to the core of middle America." He said that will help him with Tea Partiers and Bill O'Brien supporters in New Hampshire, but he thinks it will hurt him with other voters.

"A few weeks ago I projected dramatic success in November for Democrats in Concord and Washington," Splaine said. "Romney's pick gives me even more confidence in my estimates."

For a biographical rundown on Ryan, click here for a link to his official site.

Wayne MacDonald, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, called Ryan as a bold congressman and choice. "Our country has a president right now who has been leading the nation in the wrong direction on spending, taxes, and growth of government," MacDonald said. "As 'America's Comeback Team' the Romney, Ryan ticket will turn the attention to job creation and balancing the budget. The American people deserve a ticket that is serious about fixing our fiscal mess, turning around the economy, and bringing our country back on the path to prosperity.

Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer also praised the selection.

"We have been polling our members for the last couple of months, and Paul Ryan, along with Senator Marco Rubio, have had the strongest support from Tea Party Express supporters across the country," he said. "Ryan is a strong fiscal conservative, and he has used his Chairmanship of the House Budget Committee to address the serious financial woes facing the country."

What's your take on Romney's pick for vice president?